Episode 1 of 32
Introduction
An overview of the PSD to WordPress workflow — what you'll build, the tools you need, and how this 32-episode series is structured.
Introduction
Welcome to the PSD to WordPress tutorial series! This is a comprehensive, 32-episode course where you'll learn how to take a Photoshop design (PSD) and convert it into a fully functional WordPress theme.
What You'll Build
By the end of this series, you'll have built a complete, custom WordPress theme from scratch. Here's the journey:
- Phase 1 — Static HTML/CSS (Episodes 1–7): Slice the PSD, build the static HTML page, and style it with CSS
- Phase 2 — WordPress Setup (Episodes 8–13): Install WAMP, set up WordPress locally, and configure a blank theme
- Phase 3 — Theme Development (Episodes 14–24): Convert the static HTML into dynamic WordPress template files
- Phase 4 — Advanced Features (Episodes 25–32): Add menus, custom fields, widgets, plugins, and package the theme
What Is WordPress?
WordPress is the world's most popular Content Management System (CMS). It powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. With WordPress, users can:
- Create and manage pages and blog posts without coding
- Customize their site's appearance with themes
- Extend functionality with plugins
- Manage media, users, and settings from an admin dashboard
What Is a WordPress Theme?
A theme controls how a WordPress site looks and behaves. It consists of:
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
style.css | Theme metadata and all CSS styles |
index.php | Main fallback template |
header.php | Site header (logo, navigation) |
footer.php | Site footer (links, copyright) |
functions.php | Theme setup, register menus, enqueue styles |
front-page.php | Homepage template |
page.php | Generic page template |
single.php | Individual blog post template |
Tools You'll Need
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Adobe Photoshop | Opening and slicing the PSD design file |
| VS Code | Writing HTML, CSS, PHP code |
| WAMP Server | Running WordPress locally (Apache, MySQL, PHP) |
| WordPress | The CMS itself — free download from wordpress.org |
| Chrome DevTools | Testing and debugging in the browser |
The PSD to WordPress Workflow
- Analyze the PSD — study the design, extract colors, fonts, and spacing
- Slice assets — export images, logos, and icons from Photoshop
- Build static HTML/CSS — create a working web page from the design
- Set up WordPress — install WAMP and WordPress locally
- Create the theme — break the HTML into WordPress template files
- Add dynamic features — menus, loops, custom fields, widgets
- Package and deploy — zip the theme for distribution
Prerequisites
- Basic HTML and CSS knowledge
- Basic understanding of how websites work
- No PHP or WordPress experience needed — we'll learn as we go
Key Takeaways
- PSD to WordPress is a core skill for front-end developers and freelancers
- The workflow goes: PSD → static HTML/CSS → WordPress theme
- WordPress themes are made of PHP template files, a stylesheet, and a functions file
- You'll need Photoshop, VS Code, WAMP Server, and WordPress
- No prior PHP or WordPress knowledge is required